The Sixt story

1912

Martin Sixt founds the "Sixt Autofahrten und Selbstfahrer" company. He starts with three cars, two Mercedes and one Luxus-Deutz-Landaulet. Sixt owns one of the first rent-a-car companies in Germany, specializing in day-trips and custom tours. His clients are almost exclusively members of the British nobility and dollar-rich Americans.

1914

Vehicles and drivers are placed under the High Command of the Army and confiscated.

1919

Martin Sixt buys the Munich location in Seitzstrasse no. 11. Today one can still find there one of the most-visited Sixt city-stations.

1927

Martin Sixt hands over the company to his nephew Hans Sixt. An 8-cylinder Isotta-Frascini and the big 6-cylinder Renault join the fleet. Because of problems with the spare parts for foreign cars, as of 1929 Sixt will use only Mercedes cars.

1938

The economic boycott against Germany leaves deep marks on the travel and rent-a-car business, and Sixt is affected by a severe drop in revenues.

1939

The German Wehrmacht confiscates all of Sixt's rental vehicles. Only a seven-seat Mercedes 230 Landaulet hidden in a barn will make it through the war.

1945

Martin Sixt dies in May 1945, aggrieved by the bombing and destruction of his life achievement, the living and business quarters.

1946

Relaunch of the business after the second world war with the Mercedes 230 Landaulet as a chauffeured limousine. Setting up of the Export-Taxi fleet for members of the US Army.

1948

First in Europe, Hans Sixt employs radio taxis in Munich. The gear is imported from the US.

1951

Establishment of the "Auto Sixt" Rent a Car.

1966

The first airport offices in Frankfurt am Main and Munich are opened.

1967

"Auto Sixt" is the first German company to launch a leasing program for vehicles.

1969

Erich Sixt, now Sixt AG Chairman of the Board, is the third generation offspring to step into the family business.

1970

Trucks are added to the Sixt fleet.

1976

Regine Sixt joins the company and starts signing contracts with all major airlines hotel chains.

1977

Sixt opens stations in all major airports in Germany.

1980

Establishment of "Auto Leasing GmbH" (ASL) together with the Disko-Group, Düsseldorf.

1982

Name change from "Auto Sixt" to "Sixt Autovermietung GmbH". The logo: "Sixt/Budget".

1986

Establishment and stock-market launch of "Sixt Aktiengesellschaft". Regine Sixt leads the international marketing department

1987

Regine Sixt launches Corporate Credit Card Programme.

1988

Establishment of "Sixt Leasing GmbH".

1990

"Sixt Autovermietung Schweiz" takes up business.

1991

Regine Sixt starts the international expansion with licensees.

1993

Opening of Sixt offices at ICE railway stations

1993

New structure of the Sixt Group with Sixt AG as a holding. Branching out of the rent-a-car business as "Sixt GmbH & Co Autovermietung KG".

1994

Europe-wide cooperation with "Deutsche Lufthansa AG". Sixt becomes a partner of the Lufthansa Miles&More programme. Launch of CarExpress Service. Sixt becomes the leading German rent-a-car company.

1995

Cooperation with German Railways. Sixt is the first German rent-a-car company on the Internet. Preferred partnership with Hilton.

1996

"Sixt Leasing GmbH" turns into "Sixt Leasing AG". First in the world: Sixt SelfService Center. CarExpress OnBoard together with Lufthansa. First Austrian Sixt station at Vienna airport.

1997

Sixt signs a cooperation agreement with the German motor club ADAC. Majority participation in the "MOHAG Motorwagen-Handelsgesellschaft". Sixt sets up a Call Center in Rostock with 150 employees. Sixt opens 130 stations in France, among others at the airports in Paris, Nice, Lyon and Bordeaux. Sixt starts operating in Great Britain with a presence at all major airports. Sixt becomes a partner of the British Airways Executive Club, Deutsche BA and South African Airways.

1998

Sixt opens offices at all major airports in Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Malta, Spain, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Tunisia, Morocco, Martinique, Guadeloupe, La Reunion and New Zealand. Sixt holds now 1000 plus stations in Europe. Booking Center in Washington (USA). Business offices in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Toronto, and Australia.Cooperation agreements with strategically important airlines like United Airlines/Mileage Plus, exclusive partner of Air Littoral and Lauda Air, partner of the Air France "Fréquence Plus" and the KLM "Flying Dutchman" mileage program, as well as marketing partner of El Al and partner of the Frequent Traveller Clubs. Sixt becomes a partner of the Qualiflyer program. Sixt becomes an exclusive partner of Hilton Hotels Europe and Preferred Partner of Hilton HHonors world-wide. France, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Greece, Malta and Czech Republic become franchise countries.

1999

The worldwide expansion continues with the franchise countries China, Moldova, Panama, Nigeria, La Martinique, St. Martin, Libya, Kenya, Ghana & Armenia. New airline partners: China Airlines & LAN Chile.

2000

Sixt opens the e-commerce platform for cars and travel and founds e-Sixt AG. Regine Sixt founds Regine Sixt Kinderhilfe e.V. with the slogan "Drying little tears". Croatia, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal and La Guadeloupe become franchise countries. Sixt agrees on new airline cooperations: Condor, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airways, Martin Air.

2001

United Arab Emirates, Oman, Lebanon, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana join the Sixt franchise programme. Sixt starts cooperations with Air Dolimiti, Emirates, VARIG & Alitalia.

2002

Slovenia, Qatar, Kuwait, Barbados, St.Lucia become Sixt franchise partner. Sixt agrees on cooperation with Aeroflot, Air Malta, Czech Airlines, Eurowings & Brussels Airlines.

2003

Sixt launches the low-cost SIXTI brand and successfully enters the European low-budget rental business segment. Sixt also launches Holiday Cars, an all-inclusive offer of holiday rental cars which can be booked at numerous points of sale worldwide. Sixt wins Sweden, Serbia, Montenegro, Egypt and Albania as franchise countries. The airline cooperations are extended as well: Cirrus Airlines, Germanwings an TAP.

2004

Denmark, Russia, Ukraine, Macedonia, Seychelles, La Reunion, Mauritius, Madagascar, Jordan & Brazil become new franchise partners. Continental Airlines, Delta & Gulf Air join the Sixt airline partner programme.

2005

Sixt expands its franchising network to India, Thailand, Saudi-Arabia, Pakistan, Mongolia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Norway, Iceland, Finland, French Guyana, Costa Rica and the Domenican Republic).New airline partners: AirBaltic, Air Berlin, Air Partner, Cathay Pacific, Darwin & Austrian Airlines.

2006

Sixt launches its own network of stations in the Spanish market. At the start of the year, two rental stations open in Mallorca. Barcelona, Malaga and Marbella follow.Sixt opens office in the USA. New frnachise countries are: Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Argentina, Chile, Algeria, Belarus & Bahrain. Kuwait Airways, Royal Brunei, SAS, TUIfly, US Airways, Lufthansa Private Jet, Monarch Airlines become Sixt partners.

2007

2007 new record revenue and earning figures. Konstantin Sixt becomes Managing Director of e-sixt. Foundation of autohaus24.de. Sixt expands its franchise network to China, Moldova, Panama, Nigeria, La Martinique, St. Martin, Libya, Kenya, Ghana & Armenia. New airline partners: China Airlines & LAN Chile.

2008

As the worldwide first car rental, Sixt offers bookings per iPhone. Sixt becomes preferred partner of Lufthansa. Syria, Kosovo and New Caledonia become franchise partners. Besides that, Sixt wins new airline partners: Kingfisher, Bulgaria Air, KD Avia, Transaero, Icelandair & Jat Airways.

2009

The company’s international expansion continues apace – stations open in Mexico, Peru, Angola and Mozambique. Sixt fits its vehicles with intelligent technology: BMW ConnectedDrive. The company signs partnership deals with hotel reservation portals such as HRS. Online Sixt e-ventures GmbH and autobild.de cooperate on multi-brand new car portal autohaus24.de.

2010

Sixt and RWE launch rental system for electric cars across Germany. In the leasing sector, Sixt develops new concepts for e-mobility solutions. Further innovations include hybrid vehicles from BMW. Company launches range of leasing products in Baltic states, expands by opening branches in Puerto Rico, Tanzania, Nepal and Kosovo.

2011

Sixt starts its expansion plans in the USA by establishing its own rental stations in Florida. Other countries covered by new franchise agreements include Georgia, Uruguay and the Cayman Islands. The company signs an exclusive cooperation agreement with NetJets Europe. Together, Sixt and BMW create the premium carsharing joint venture DriveNow and launch this service in Munich, Berlin and Düsseldorf.

Founding of Sixt Mobility Consulting GmbH, which provides leasing clients with car fleet management and mobility-related consultancy services from a single source. Sixt and TÜV SÜD join forces to form a company which takes care of issues relating to registering cars with the authorities in Germany. Aid organization Regine Sixt Kinderhilfe e.V. is renamed as Drying Little Tears and becomes the official CSR program at Sixt AG.

2012

Sixt celebrates its 100th anniversary and maintains the pace of its international expansion: The company starts business in Thailand, Kenya, the Ivory Coast and the Philippines. Expansion in the USA takes the form of new stations in Georgia and Arizona. Sixt Unlimited sees the company launch a “flat rate” for car hire in nine European countries. Barcode rental services become even faster, and Sixt enters partnerships with the Preferred Hotel Group and Latvian airline airBaltic. DriveNow becomes available outside Germany for the first time (San Francisco, USA) and wins the ÖkoGlobe 2012 prize for sustainability.